Apparatus for extracting hops



(No Model.)

J. SCHNEIDER. APPARATUS FOB EXTRAUTING HOPS.

No. 450,534. PatntedApr. 14,1891.

: NURRIS' FETERS co, mom-mac, wAsMmGru UNITED STATES ATnNT I OFFICE.

JOHN SCHNEIDER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING HO PS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,534, dated April14, 1891. A

Application filed December 29, 1890. Serial No. 376,046. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN SCHNEIDER, of Cleveland, in the county ofCuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Brewing and Hop- Extracting Apparatus; and I do herebyde-' clare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in brewing and hop-extractingapparatus; and it consists in certain features of construction and incombination of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is aplan of the dumping-bottom detached.

A represents an upright container, usually cylindrical in the main, buthaving a conical lower section A, the latter having a discharging-nozzleB, provided with a valve 1). Nozzle B connects with two or moredischarging-pipes-for instance, B B thcse pipes of valve is a merematter of convenience in manipulation, and of course other valves wouldanswer the purpose.

O is a perforated dumping false bottom, preferably constructed insections or halves, each section being mounted on a shaft or trunnion 0,extending out through suitable stuffingboxe's, and the outer end of oneof these trunnions for each section being squared or otherwise preparedto receive a wrench, handle, or crank'for tilting the sections of thedumping-bottom and discharging the contents above the bottom.

D is a steam-pipe having branches or nozzles DQD D D and D alldischarging into the container and each branch or nozzle being providedwith a valve (1, nozzle D being located below the line of thedumping-bottom and the other nozzles D D, &c., entering the container atdifferent elevations above the dumping-bottom.

E is a larger pipe connecting, as shown, with the top or upper sectionof the container and connecting below, for instance, with nozzle B belowvalve Z) of the latter. Pipe E has valves E- E and above valve E thispipe E may have a branch 6, provided With a valve or cock-for instance,as at efor drawing off samples of the product. There is a man-holeclosed by plate F, hinged at f, this plate serving as a door for givingaccess to the inside of the container, and through which the latter ischarged, this door opening inward, so that the pressure of steam insidethe container will help hold the door closed, making a tight joint.There should be a steam-gage, as at G, and a safety-valve, as at ll.Pipes B B are supposed to connect, respectively, with differentbrew-kettles, (not shown,) these pipes making tight joints with thekettles and extending down inside the latter to near the bottom.

J is merely a strainer or screen to prevent the hops being blown intopipe E. I

In operating the apparatus the dumpingbottom is closed-that is to say,it is in a horizontal positionand the container above the dumping-bottomis charged with hops. Next steam is simultaneously admitted throughnozzles D and D -that is to say, below and above the hops-and after atime steam is also admitted through nozzles D ,I) and D so that duringthe latterstages of the steaming process steam is admitted through allotthese nozzles at the same time. During the steaming stage valves E Eremain open and valve 17 remains closed, and the steam admitted to thecontainer extracts more or less of the substance the container. Next thedumping-bottom is opened to discharge the partially-spent hops intotheone of I the brewing-kettles that has been receiving the extract,where the extract and hops are treated in the usual manner inbrewing-kettles.

I is a lateral shaft extending centrally through the lower section ofthe container some little distance below and out of the way of thedumping-bottom. The one end of this shaft extends outside the container;where it is provided with a crank I for rotating the shaft. This shaftinside of the container is provided with a series of wings or blades Ii,these wings or blades of the shaft constituting a breaker to break upthe mass of hops in case they should clog in discharging, and inpractice the breaker is usually rotated while the hops are dischargingfrom the'container.

As'soon as the charge is dumped intoon'e of the brewing kettles steam isshut olffrom the container, the dumping-bottom is closed, and anothercharge of hops is introduced into the container, and the valves aremanipulated so as to discharge into the other brewlugkettle, and bythetime the second charge isdischarged into the second brewing-kettle thefirst brewing-kettle should be in readiness to receive the third chargefrom the container, and so on, thus making the process continuous.

With this apparatus, the brewing. being done in closed vessels, all ofthe aroma of the hops is saved, whereby the flavor of the beer isgreatly improved and less hops I are requird.

I'will add that it is not essential that pipe 1 E should dischargethrough pipes B B as l pipeE might have branches discharging into i thedifferent brewing-kettles; but this would involve extra expense over andabove the construction shown, and hence the latter is preferred.

A third discharge-pipe with suitable valve may be employed, if desired.

What I claim is 1. In brewing apparatus, a container having a'conicallower section containing a false perforated dumping-bottom and having adischargingmozzle with branch pipes and valves adapted to discharge intodifferent vessels, an induction steampipe having different branches,connecting with the container, respectively, below the dumping-bottomand at different elevations above the dumping-bottom, each branch havingastop-valve, and an eduction-pipe connecting with thetop 01"up persection ofthe container andhaving. or connectingwith the differentdischarge-pipes, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

2, In brewing or hop-extractingapparatus, a container havinga perforatedfalse dumping-bottom and breaker located inside of the containen'thebreaker being below the dumping-bottom, an induction steam-pipehavingbranches connecting with the container below and at different elevationsabove the dumping-bottom, an induction-pipe leading,

from the top orupper section of :the containers and joining a system ofdischarge-pipes below the container, a suitable feed-orifice and meansforhermetically closing the same, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification, in the presence of twowitnesses this 3d day of November, 1890.

JOHN SCHNEIDER.

Witnesses:

l). H. DORER, WARD HOOVER.

